Christie defends wife's charity; donor critical of delays

Mar. 13, 2013

Toms River, NJ - Gov. Chris Christie accepts the nomination from the Ocean County Republican Club at their meeting at the Holiday Inn in Toms River 031113 / Tom Spader/Asbury Park Press

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Gov. Chris Christie said a relief fund chaired by his wife deserves praise for being careful about how it distributes $32 million in contributions, even though none of the aid has yet to reach victims of superstorm Sandy.

During a visit to a North Brunswick center for the developmentally disabled Monday, Christie reiterated his wife Mary Pat Christie’s explanation for the delay in a Sunday story in the Asbury Park Press, saying the relief fund was meant to address long-term needs, rather than provide immediate assistance to victims.

“I’m really proud of the job she’s done and the professionalism she’s brought to the job,” Christie said. “The fact that they’re being careful with people’s money is something that’s laudable.”

At least one donor to the relief fund isn’t satisfied with the first lady’s explanation for the delay, however.

“When my wife and I were moved to give $500 to the fund, it was out of compassion and efforts to do something for the devastated families and small businesses,” Little Silver resident Patrick wrote in an email to the Press.

“To read this spin control coming from Mrs. Christie when people are still suffering is a disgrace,” he wrote. “I feel that we were duped with false promises about our donation and feel a deep sense of sorrow for those who need the aid most.”

On the heels of the worst natural disaster in the state’s history, Christie tapped his wife, who has a full-time job with a Wall Street hedge fund, to chair the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, which was formed Nov. 1. From the outset, the relief fund has focused on lending support to nonprofit groups active in the relief effort, rather than giving aid directly to storm victims. The charity expects to release $1 million in grant this week, with another $5 million to follow several weeks after that.

Mary Pat Christie told the Press that she’s worked hard since the storm to solicit major donations from wealthy individuals and major corporations and get the proper resources and safeguards in place. The relief fund, headquartered in donated office space in Harding, has just four full-time employees on staff, she noted.

"I was careful four months ago, I'm careful now, and I'm going to be careful going forward,” the first lady told the Press.

The charity’s deliberate pace, however, contrasts with the Robin Hood Foundation’s rapid turnaround of the $67 million raised through the 12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief. The New York City nonprofit group, which has a staff of 85 employees, expects to have awarded nearly all of those funds by the end of the week, with 40 percent or nearly $27 million of the money earmarked for relief efforts in New Jersey.